Improved animal-tkap



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JAMES P. Winrar.,A o-E HENDERSON. KENTUCKY. Letters Patent No. 73,418, dated January 14, 1868.

IMPROVED ANIMAL-TRAP.

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` Be it known that I, JAMES P. WIGAL, of Henderson, in the county of Henderson, and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Animal-Traps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, inA which the'igure is a top-or plan view of my .improved trap. i

. My invention has for its object to furnish an improved animal-trap, which shall-be simple in construction, convenientand effective in operation, and not liableto get out of order; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement ofthe various parts ofthe trap, as hereinafter more fully described.

A is 'the bo'x of thetr-ap, which' is divided longitudinally into two unequal compartments bythe partition'a. The forward partvof thebox.A is lcovered with a close cover, a2, andv the rear part witha wireeloth or other grating, a3. The bottom-of the box eirtends outin front, so as to form a platform, a4. v B and C are triangular wings, which are hingediatgthe cornersof the forward end of the box A, and which, when closed, form a triangular chamberat the forwar'dcnd of the box. -`D is an arm, one end of which is rigidly attached to the upper part of the 'wing" l3. E isa connecting-rod, one'end of which is4 pivoted to the upper part of the wingG, and

its other end to-the armrD,neiar its-end, as shown in the drawing. -sTo'thefree end of the arm D is pivoted one end of the connecting-rodF, thefother end of which is pivote'd'to the, crank-pin Aof the orank G, the shaft ot`- which passes through the coverfaz'ro'f'the box A, and has a spring, H, coiled around and attached to it.l I and J arelerer-c'atches, the forward ends of which are pivoted to the cover a2, near its forward edge, in such positions that the crank Gr, as it-vrevolvesrwill strike against and catehupor. the shoulders lz' and j, formed upon the said lever-catches I and J. The rear ends ofthe arms or levers I and Jare connected to each other, andheld up against the stop-pins K by the-spiral spring L, as shown in the figure.` M is asmall platform,'pivotedatits rear edge justV beneath the bait-hook. To thc platform M, or to the pivoting-bar offsaid platform,` is attached an arm, N, the free end of which extendsup through a slot in the forward edge of the cover a2. O is a connecting-wire or rod, one end ef which is attached tothe end of the arm N, and its other vend to the end of the long arm of the bent or elbowlever P.` 'Thelever'P is pivoted at its angle to the cover a2, and the end of its short arm is pi'voted to the end of the'bar R, whic hworks longitudinally in a groove in -the cover a2, and the other end of which rests against the lever-catch J. S is a drop-gate, which closes the passage-way through the partition al, and to which is attached an varm, T, the upper end of which is connected with the lever-catch I by a rod or'wire, U. Visa drop-gate, which closes the Apassage-way from the platform a4 into the first or smaller compartment ofthe box A, and which, Vwhen the .trap is set, is held closedor locked bythe curved arm W, attached to the wing B, and` which 'passes in through theside of the box A above the gate V.

In using the trap, kthe coil spring His wound up by turning the crank G, and it is set by allowing the said crank to catch upon and be held by the shoulderj of the levercatch J. The animal seeking to reach the bait steps upon and presses down the pivoted platform M. This, by means of the arm N, connecting-rodV O, bent 'lever I, and bar R, pushes back the lever-catch J and releases the crank G. `The coil spring H immediately revolves the crank a' half revolution,l till it catches upon the shoulderz' of the lever-catch I. This movement of the crank G, by means of the connecting-rods F and E and arm D, closes the wings B C, and shuts the animal into the triangular chamber formed by saidwings. The same movement withdraws the curved arm W, unfastening the drop-Agate V, through which the animal rushes in seeking to escape. `1 From this compartment he passes into the larger compartment of the box A by raising the gate S. The gate S, in rising by means of the arm T and connecting-wire or rod U, draws the lever-catch I back, releasing the crank G, which is revolved a half Arevolutio'i'i by the coil spring H, again setting the trap for another animal.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentl Il. The combination of the coil spring H, crank G, lever-catches I and J, spiral spring L, or .its equivalent, connecting-rods E and F, and arm D with each other and with the wings B and C, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth. I y

2. The combination of the pivoted platform M, arm N, connecting-rod or wire O, elbow-lever P, and bar R with each other and with the lever-catch J, for the purpose of springing the trap, substantially as herein shown and described.l

' 3. The combination of thearm T and connecting-rod or wire U with the drop-gate S and lever-catch I, for

the purpose'oi' resetting thetrap, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The combination of the curved arm W with the wing B and drop-gate V, substantially as herein shown und described, and forthe purpose set forth. I

JAM-ES P. WIGAL.

Witnesses:

i LAFAYETTE GLOBE',- )MK P. RonrnsoN. 

